Education & Degree Verification
Education verification confirms that a candidate earned the degree or diploma they list, directly with the school or its official records source. It’s included in the Deep Dive package or available on its own.
What we confirm
- School name and location
- Dates attended
- Degree or diploma earned, and graduation date
- Major or field of study
- Honors or GPA, when the school releases them and you request it
How education verification works
- The candidate lists their school and degree and authorizes the check online.
- We confirm the degree.
- If a school has closed, we contact its official records custodian, usually the state’s education department.
- You get a report showing what was confirmed, and any difference from what the candidate listed.
Where degree records come from
Most U.S. colleges report degrees to the National Student Clearinghouse, a nonprofit that can confirm many degrees within minutes. When a school doesn’t participate, or the record is older, we contact the registrar directly, which takes longer. High schools are verified directly with the school or district.
Diploma mills and fake degrees
A diploma mill sells degrees with little or no real coursework. Their names often sound like real universities. Confirming that a candidate “graduated” isn’t enough if the school itself isn’t legitimate.
What can delay a verification?
- Schools that don’t use the Clearinghouse, which must be contacted directly
- Closed schools, where we have to locate the records custodian
- Name changes since graduation, such as after marriage. Ask candidates to list the name they used in school.
- Holds on records, such as unpaid tuition, which some schools use to withhold verification
- School breaks, when registrar offices are short-staffed
Who uses education verification?
Healthcare employers, financial services firms, licensed professions, and any employer hiring for a role where a degree is a stated requirement.
Often ordered with
- Employment Verification to confirm work history
- Healthcare Sanctions for clinical roles
- International Background Checks for degrees earned abroad
Frequently asked questions
Can you verify high school diplomas and GEDs?
Yes
Can you verify degrees from schools outside the U.S.?
Yes, typically in 5–20 business days depending on the country.
What if the school has closed?
We contact the school’s official records custodian, which is usually the state’s education department.
What if the candidate didn’t finish the degree?
The report shows the dates they attended and that no degree was awarded. That’s common, and only a problem if they claimed a degree they don’t have.
